a Christmas driving by adventure

 The Jingle Belles have asked, at the beginning of their 12th! season, "What did Santa bring you?"  My favorite gift this year was new ink pad & marker storage units but I couldn't imagine how to incorporate them in a card.  The rest of my new stampin' goodies came from the January-June mini and Sale-A-Bration catalogs that start tomorrow, and they will make great Valentine and spring/summer occasion cards, but Christmas?  Not so much...

Leena Girsa posted some great ideas for the Driving By set - FREE during Sale-A-Bration with any $50 purchase! - that I was CASEing.  I kept thinking all 3 vehicles are just adorable, but something seemed off about the little VW.  Finally I realized that the gifts on top of the car evoked Christmas more than birthday for me!

stamp set - Driving By; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Blends - Gray Granite combo, Cherry Cobbler combo; Stampin' Write markers - Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent; card stock - Basic White, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent; designer series paper - Tidings of Christmas; Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine with Word Wishes and Layering Circles dies

The other two cards I made (only slightly different than Leena's) really showcase the "not so much" Christmas vibe of this set:

stamp sets - Driving By, Birds & Branches; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie; Stampin' Blend combos - Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay; card stock - Basic White regular and thick, Pumpkin Pie; designer series paper - Pattern Party; Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine with Tasteful Labels dies

stamp sets - Driving By, Special Moments; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark; Stampin' emboss powder - Basics White; Stampin' Blend combos - Smoky Slate, Poppy Parade; card stock - Basic White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade; designer series paper - Pattern Party; Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine with Layering Circles dies and Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder; Banners Pick a Punch

The greetings in the Driving By set, in addition to "you've got style" are "awww, thanks" and "DRIVING BY just to say hi" - the convertible with its balloons make me think of a wedding or anniversary - is it just me?

learning new things adventures

Learning new things has always been one of my all-time, top favorite adventures.  Lately I've been learning to emboss using cutting dies and our new embossing mats.  I also try to learn new color combinations now and then, and the challenge at As You See It is definitely one I would not try on my own:

stamp set - Love You to Pieces; ink - Crushed Curry, Flirty Flamingo; card stock - Basic Black, Flirty Flamingo; Whisper White; Big Shot with Puzzle Pieces thinlits and Embossing mats

adventure in blues and browns inspired by nature

I find the Rooted in Nature stamp set really inspiring, and can't seem to stop using it - I made at least three more cards with it this week, in spite of having other sets that have never been used!  This one is in blues and browns for the challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz; I would also like to enter it at That's Crafty:

stamp set - Rooted in Nature; ink - Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; card stock - Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Balmy Blue; Linen thread; Big Shot with Nature's Roots framelits

The next one I CASEd (Copy And Share Everything) from one of my favorite stampers, Susan Horr.  I changed the sentiment, and the colors just a bit, so mine is more monochromatic, for Use Your Stuff:

stamp sets: Rooted in Nature, Flourish Phrases; ink - Shaded Spruce; card stock - Soft Seafoam, Call Me Clover, Shaded Spruce; Big Shot with Nature's Roots framelits

Susan said she learned the Step Back Stamping technique from Jennifer McGuire; I learned it from Susan, who explained it clearly and succinctly!

adventure in greens

If you haven't heard, (although I'm sure you have, by now!) Stampin' Up!® revamped the core colors this year - the new collection is better than ever!  I waited patiently (or something like that) to order my new ink pads until June, and just this week decided to have a bit of play with the new greens.  I stamped a background, and found the perfect layout for it at Fab Friday:

stamp set - Rooted in Nature; ink - Granny Apple Green, Call Me Clover, Shaded Spruce; card stock - Granny Apple Green, Call Me Clover, Whisper White; Big Shot with Nature's Roots framelits

What do you think of the new color collection - do you love it as much as I do?

just a few more challenge adventures

In addition to the other challenges I've posted about this year, I set myself a personal challenge to use every new stamp set at least once before putting them away.  Pick a Pennant was another set I received free for attending OnStage this year.  It's also another that I wouldn't have ordered for myself, but only because I have another small alphabet set.  The pennants make this one unique, though, so I was glad to put it to use with the Color Throwdown palette:

stamp set - Pick a Pennant, ink - Soft Saffron, Calypso Coral, Pool Party; card stock - Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist, Calypso Coral, Pool Party; Stampin' sponge

I love those little tassels!

I told you not long ago about #dwpb100things, and last week I made thing 13 by using the last bit of spray paint from the back of my cabinet to alter the Army green index card file box I've used for several years to house my ICAD collection:

I planned to cover the bubbled-up rust spot with lettering but they didn't balance out right that way.  Oh well, it's still far better this year than ever before!.  And speaking of ICAD, today marks the end of week two in #dyicad2018; I've counted each week as a "thing" so today's card completes thing 21!  

I'm attempting to keep it simple this year so I have a better chance of completing 61, so I decided on Sharpie markers and twice through the alphabet (upper and lower case) with a few numbers thrown in at the end.

I've also given myself permission to double count the cards I'm making for #365somethings2018, so cards 131 through 137 of my #365cards2018 are also thing 18:

I'm about 30 cards behind on this one, but still pretty confident I can hit 365 by December 31.  How are you doing on your challenges?  Let me know where to find you and I'll try to share some encouragement!

adventure with bits & bobs

I was thinking about the box o' bits & bobs because that leftover green tag/mat was being relegated the other day.  The yellowish and coral flower below has been cycling back and forth for about a week between the pile o' bits & bobs (that need to be filed into the box), and the inside of the stamp set case, because I thought that would remind me to use it.  Fortunately, I saw the Spring Wreath challenge at Fusion Card Challenge; I think it fits perfectly with both the photo and the sketch:

stamp set - Amazing You; ink - Old Olive, Calypso Coral, Basic Black Archival; Stampin' Blends - Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight; card stock - Peekaboo Peach, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Whisper White; designer series paper - Wood Textures; Big Shot with Simple Stripes Textured Impressions™ embossing folder

Looking at the photo, now, I wish I'd left a margin on the single flower or cut off the margin on the flower with greenery.  Even so, I'm excited about being able to combine both the sketch and the inspiration of the flowers and greenery, the wood, the colors, the inset stripes - I think this is the first time I've ever been able to combine both :)  

6-4-2 adventures

Did you miss me?  After my last post in May, I spent 6 weeks preparing to retire, 4 weeks on the road to Dallas and Denver to spend time with the cutest grandsons in the known world, and 2 weeks catching up on chores at home - more adventures than I can tell about!  Included in the catching up was 200+ blog posts.  OK, really I skipped some of the older challenges.  I made this card last week, using a beautiful new stamp set and thinlits bundle, for the retired Peace on Earth challenge at Jingle Belles:

stamp set - Carols of Christmas; ink - Versamark, Craft White; Stampin' emboss powder - Silver; card stock - Silver Foil, Dapper Denim; Big Shot and Card Front builder thinlets

(I would like to say that I can't believe I forgot to post it, but unfortunately, it's all too much like me to forget to post) Then the new Jingle Belles challenge came out - Spirits of Christmas Past - and I pulled out retired supplies for this card:

stamp set - Seasonal Bells; ink - Crumb Cake, Encore Gold (retired); card stock - Very Vanilla regular and thick; punch - Bell; Big Shot with Holiday Frame embossing folder (retired)

(So perverse of me to use new for old and old for new, and then to think it sounded like a rally cry for the Three Musketeers)  In an effort to redeem myself, I used supplies you're still able to purchase for the not-yet-retired challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments, and created a card suitable for the current season:

stamp set - Rose Wonder; ink - Pool Party, Lemon Lime Twist, Flirty Flamingo; card stock - Pool Party, Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White, Watercolor; Big Shot with Rose Garden thinlits; Aquabrush

This card is a CASE from a card I thought I had pinned, using a technique the original artist described - watercoloring through the die-cut negative.  Now, I can't seem to find the original post anywhere (aaugh!) - if anyone can point me to it, I'd love to link it here to give her credit!

color challenge adventures

Gail's color choices for the Watercooler Wednesday challenge look delectable, don't they?

But, I skipped my first impression and went for summer flowers, inspired by these cards of Jackie Susnik's:

stamp sets - Touches of Texture, Better Together; ink - Peekaboo Peach, Daffodil Delight; card stock - Peekaboo Peach, Very Vanilla, Watermelon Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight; Big Shot with Flourish thinlits

At Jingle Belles, the color of choice is red:

stamp sets - Cookie Cutter Christmas, Wondrous Wreath; ink - Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray; card stock - Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla specialty designer series paper - This Christmas; punch - Cookie Cutter builder; Big Shot with Layering Ovals framelits; other - blender pen, chalk marker, clear & gold Wink of Stella

And at Winter Wonderland, the color is your choice, plus white.  Our demonstrator team met this afternoon, and Debbie brought this stunning design for her shoebox swap:

stamp set - Star of Light; ink - Pacific Point; card stock - Whisper White, Pacific Point; Big Shot with Starlight thinlits; Basic Rhinestones

Actually, Debbie's design was in portrait orientation, but I stamped my sentiment on the wrong triangle piece and decided to reorient rather than start over.  Usually I would just flip the card stock over, but the cutting lines were penciled in and I didn't want to erase them.  Yes, I am that lazy, but also I'm kind of klutzy and would probably have mangled the edge while erasing.  Oh, and sometimes the more intense colors show through on the flip side of white card stock.  That's it - that's the reason - or at least that's my story.

While I was working on the Cookie Cutter Christmas card, I had to test out the reindeer version, too, so here are some gift tags for the Anything But a Card prompt at Holly Jolly Christmas:

stamp set - Cookie Cutter Christmas; ink - Soft Suede, Real Red; Stampin' Write marker - Real Red; card stock - Soft Suede, Crumb Cake; punch - Scalloped Tag Topper; Cherry Cobbler baker's twine

adventures with Thoughtful Branches

Last week the prompt at Watercooler Wednesday was the letter B.  It made me happy, because my order with the balloon punch was due to arrive before the weekend and I had been looking forward to making a card with birthday balloons.  I had also been planning to use the Creating  Pretty Cards July sketch with its three-rectangle focal point for the We Three Kings prompt at Jingle Belles.  Then the weekend arrived, and I forgot all those plans.  Its not as if something more exciting came up; I think I mowed the lawn. sigh...

So this week I thought it would be best if I made a card for Watercooler Wednesday right away, say Thursday evening, so I wouldn't forget.  But I couldn't decide what I wanted to do with Kath's sketch until today:

stamp set - Thoughtful Branches; ink - Cucumber Crush, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi; card stock - Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White; Big Shot with Layering Circles framelits

While I had the amazingly versatile Thoughtful Branches set out, I tried a hydrangea, too, using the colors from Cupcake Inspirations:

stamp set - Thoughtful Branches; ink - Blushing Bride, Cucumber Crush, Elegant Eggplant; card stock - Blushing Bride, Cucumber Crush, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White; Big Shot with Beautiful Branches thinlits

And, finally, for Jingle Belles, I stamped three trees from the same stamp set:

stamp sets - Thoughtful Branches, Better Together; ink - Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry; card stock - Always Artichoke, Whisper White; gold Wink of ,Stella; Big Shot with Softly Falling embossing folder

The only thing this card has in common with the card I started out to make is the embossed white layer - even the embossing folder is different - but I really like this one, and the other one just wouldn't come together.  Maybe it's meant for another day.

a bright adventure

Just a really quick post tonight so I can play along with the color challenge at Just Us Girls, since it seemed to fit so well with this sentiment:

stamp set - Flourishing Phrases; ink - Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride; card stock - Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight; Big Shot with Layering Ovals framelits

The inside sentiment is "so He made you.  Happy Birthday"  I should have taken another photo, but I'm hoping you'll trust me, so I can also link up at Seize the Birthday - thanks!

Please come back tomorrow if you can for the 3-year anniversary Watercooler Blog hop!

adventures that were more work than expected

I've been working on custom thank you cards for a friend who organizes and flies in kite events.  I was really excited when I received this stamp set for attending OnStage Local last year - it's perfect! The request was to include a beach scene, if possible, and Amanda did all the thinking for me with her card.  My watercoloring skills, even with an Aquapainter, are not strong, so I decided on sponging.  That meant masking, including the little kite flier.  That was a bit more work, but much better results for my skill level.

I didn't want a square card, since those require extra postage, so I borrowed Peg's framed layout.  I planned to emboss the frame, but couldn't decide where to put a sentiment, so instead used several stamp sets.  That was a bit more work, too, but I think it was worth it:

stamp sets - Happy Home, Another Thank You, An Open Heart, Crazy About You, Petite Pairs, So Very Happy (retired); ink - Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Marina Mist; Stampin' Write markers - Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit (retired), Gumball Green (retired); card stock - Naturals White (retired), Gumball Green (retired); Big Shot with Ovals Collection framelits

Since kite-theme thank you cards took most of my crafting time this week, I'd like to submit these at the Watercooler, where Anything Goes this week.

When I finished six sets of four kite cards, I had an evening left to work on a card for Jingle Belles' Washi Wonderland.  Some time ago I learned that washi tapes fit the wider stripe of our Stylish Stripes embossing folder, so I decided to try that.  Since I hadn't put away the Circle Card Thinlit that a friend borrowed and recently returned, I decided to try that, too.  One of my favorite bloggers used to say that she "stamped without a net" and that's exactly what was going on here. Narrow washi tapes fit that stripe, but one of my two Christmas design tapes is wide, so I needed to do a bit more work.  I put strips of the tape on an empty Stampin' Dimensionals backing sheet and trimmed it.  Then I applied it to the card and trimmed the edges.  Trimming the edges on a straight piece isn't difficult, but I hadn't really thought through the process of trimming the edges inside a curve in the middle of the card - that turned out to be a bit more work.  To match the stamp to the washi tapes, I decided the stamp needed to be multi-colored, and therefore done with markers.  Yes, a bit more work, but again, worth it.  After all that was done, I didn't like the plain white right side, so I found a coordinating piece of paper.  It needed to be retro fit around that cut curve in the middle of the card, so, I'm sure you've guessed, I needed to to bit more work.  (whew)  At least, I found places for the trimmed-off narrow strips of washi tape, and you almost can't see the seam:

stamp set - Wishing You (retired); ink - Cucumber Crush; Stampin' Write markers - Cucumber Crush, Real Red, Garden Green; card stock - Whisper White thick; specialty designer series paper - In Color envelope; Big Shot with Circle Card thinlits die and Stylish Stripes embossing folder; washi tape - unknown

Wacky Watercooler September Mix-up adventure

Although I haven't been in a blog hop for several (too many!) months, the watercooler gang is still going strong and hopping monthly. Pin or bookmark the Home site so you can keep up with all the wonderful creations!  This month I'm sandwiched between two amazing artists, Bev and Priscilla - you can hop to either blog using the buttons at the end of this post.  Keep hopping until you've been to all the participants - you'll want to see all the Stampin' Up!® Annual and Holiday Catalog creations mixed-up in this free-for-all!

My first project doubles up on the wonderfulness of the watercooler - I've been experimenting with ombre for Jean's Colour Challenge.  I had trouble deciding (I know, no surprise there) which colors to use but I think the ColourMe! challenge provided the right answer:

supplies available from the Annual Catalog unless noted HC (HolidayCatalog):

stamp set - Serene Silhouettes, The Wilderness Awaits; ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Garden Green, Island Indigo, Pacific Point; card stock - Garden Green, Island Indigo, Whisper White; baker's twine - Whisper White; Stampin' Dimensionals

For my next project, I decided to take the free-for-all mix-up theme to an extreme, and do something different - an Altered Playing Card, or APC.  I've always been intrigued by them and the similar Artist Trading Card, or ATC.  I've made a few (very few) ATCs but the only playing cards I own are used for playing games.  Last week I found a playing card from a board game, on the ground next to the township recycle bin - perfect!  (yes, I was tempted to look in the bin for more, but it's a very big bin and I was on my way to dinner.)

all supplies (except other, noted at the end) available from the Annual Catalog:

stamp set - Summer Silhouettes; ink - Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Spritzers with re-inker - Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Glitter - Silver; card stock - Soft Sky, Vellum; tools - Hearts & Stars stencil, Project Life journaling pen, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals; 

other - Deco Art crackle paste, Artist's Loft gesso, playing card

The star was my first experiment with ombre - I've been trying to get a circle-effect - I think I was a bit more successful with the softer colors in the first photo.  This whole APC was experimental fun in mixed media, something else that has intrigued me. The Corrosive Challenge Blog is new to me this week (thanks, SmilynStef!); and the current challenge is Mixed Media, so I'm excited to link there. I'd like to link this little gem at Use Your Stuff as well, since I used my stencil.

Finally, I couldn't let you go without showing you something from the fabulous Holiday Catalog!  I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch for this one because it fit so well with my NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) Sparkly Seasons + Seasonal Frame Bundle:

supplies available as noted Holiday Catalog (HC) or Annual Catalog (AC):

stamp set - Sparkly Seasons (HC); ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Versamark (AC); card stock - Hello Honey (AC), Tip Top Taupe (AC), Mellow Moss (AC), Tangelo Twist (AC): designer vellum - Winter Wonderland (HC); Big Shot (AC) with Seasonal Frame Thinlits™ dies (HC); Fine -Tip Glue Pen (HC)

Hopefully I haven't distracted you too much with all the links, because we'd love for you to continue around our Watercooler Hop by clicking one of the links below:

other-seasonal adventures

Really, I'm not ready to let summer go.  I never agreed to the popular idea that summer starts with Memorial Day and ends with Labor Day in the U.S. - I prefer the solstice through equinox version.  So when I saw the lovely inspiration photos at Just Add Ink, my first thought was what beautiful summer colors,  Then I realized one of the photos is tulips, a spring flower, and then I remembered that Just Add Ink is from Australia, where it's nearly spring.  I still loved the bright colors, and found a stamp that reminded me of the other flowers (the ones which aren't tulips and don't seem to have any synaptic connections in my brain).  I used the sketch from Nacho Average Challenge:

stamp sets - Choose Happiness, Tin of Cards; ink - Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry; Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Sahara Sand; Versamarker (retired); Stampin' emboss powder - Clear; card stock - Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla; Tea Lace doily; Big Shot with Banner Collection framelits

I'm not convinced that sponging color on the doily was my best decision, but it's what I've got. Maybe it needs glitter?  Someone once told me glitter can fix anything.

Stamping the leaves in the background seemed like a good decision, so I repeated it for my next card, after I remembered that I do have a holly stamp for the Merry Monday challenge.  It seemed a little too intense, though, so I added a vellum banner to tone it down a bit before adding the die-cut wreath that fits in at Holly Jolly Christmas:

stamp set - Peaceful Wreath; ink - Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red;  Stampin' Write marker - Real Red; blender pen; card stock - Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red;designer vellum - Winter Wonderland; Big Shot with Wonderful Wreath framelits

beachy clean adventure

In my experience, the beach is never clean.  Not that it doesn't look clean and simply beautiful, but the sand gets on everything I take there and then it all comes home with me - not clean.  Nonetheless, LeAnne's Clean-and-Simple challenge theme at the Paper Players this week is the beach, based on Nance's sweet photo:

I know there are many ways to interpret it, but the idea of a literal interpretation has been stuck in my brain for days, so this is what I made:

stamp set - A Dozen Thoughts; ink - Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Whisper White Craft; card stock - Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Vellum; tools - stampin' sponge, sponge dauber, Stamp-a-Majig

It was fun figuring out how to make it work; if I had a stamp of two people holding hands, they'd be on there too!  Maybe it needs teeny tiny birds in the sky?  I'm pretty sure I still have the retired Up, Up, and Away set...

fun-fold summer flowers adventure

The current Stampin' Royalty challenge is Fancy Folds, and the Friday Mashup challenge is to create a project inspired by summer flowers; here's how those worked together for me:

stamp sets - Flower Shop, Tin of Cards, Fabulous Four, Yippee-Skippee (retired); ink - Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette; card stock - Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder, So Saffron, Calypso Coral; punch - Pansy; Big Shot with Little Leaves sizzlet (retired) 

As I look at the photos, I think it needs a bee or a butterfly in the upper right corner.  I'll see if I can find one before I file it in my stash of cards.

Years ago, Stampin' Up!® sold 12"x12" paper in packages of the same color, and for some reason I owned Pink Pirouette.  It probably had something to do with Valentine's day.  At one of my Stamp-a-Stack classes, we made a Z-fold card with flowers and leaves stamped in a diagonal line.  We hand-cut the shapes, then stamped the same shapes into the resulting outline on the back of the card, because bits of the back are visible when the card is folded.  It looked a little rough, but it worked with the stamp set we used, and it was the back of the card, anyway.  I had the idea that it might be easier to recreate with punched shapes, and I had two 12"x5-1/2" pre-scored bases leftover from that long-ago Stamp-a-Stack.  Now, I only have one - I'm thinking about punching out heart shapes, but who knows how many more years that may take?

another adventure in many colors

Since I tried five colors for a challenge yesterday, today I worked up to six for House of Cards!  One of the colors is white (or something like it - I can't really tell), so maybe that doesn't really count, but I'm claiming it anyway.  I thought the main element in the Fab Friday sketch looked like a frame, so I added in Laurie's CAS challenge from The Paper Players:

 stamp sets - And Many More, By the Tide; ink - Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder; card stock - Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, Naturals White (retired), So Saffron; punch - 3/4" circle; Big Shot with Deco Labels framelits

I think it qualifies at a few other challenges this week with its beach theme, but The Paper Players prefer 3 challenges or less per entry, so I'm trying to behave myself ;)  See below for links to these challenges, and join in, won't you?

adventure of coincidence in many colors

Buffy's color challenge at Watercooler Challenges is a lot more color than I'm usually comfortable with.  Doing something a little uncomfortable is what a challenge is all about, isn't it?  I tried to make it a little easier by using the Pals Paper Arts sketch, a soft neutral, and a coordinated floral theme:

stamp sets - Amazing Birthday, A Whole Lot of Lovely (hostess); ink - Pool Party, Rose Red, Versamark; card stock - Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla; Big Shot with Banners framelits, Circles Collection framelits, and Spring Flowers embossing folder (retired)

When this challenge was posted, I had just finished preparing an order to replenish my card stock supplies.  I needed every color Buffy chose (plus a few more).  When a timing coincidence like that occurs, I usually take it as a sign.  In this case, I took it as a sign that I was supposed to play along.  You could also play along - if you need a sign, just use this post!

I think the colors and the floral theme have a summer feel, so I'd like to also play along at SU-per Challenges, as well.

summer leaves adventure

I needed one more enclosure card for an order I was packaging yesterday, so I sped through some challenge blogs (I was about two weeks behind) and found two I thought would work together. CAS Colours & Sketches #132 sketch and Cut It Up challenge #75 - word:

stamp sets - Tin of Cards, Vintage Leaves; ink - Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green; card stock - Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi; Big Shot with Leaflets framelits

Isn't this leaf wonderful?  The Vintage Leaves stamp set is new, and has matching framelits.  Sometimes I get "stuck" thinking that leaves are an autumn "theme", but the many, varied shades of green are one of my favorite things about summer.  I was trying to capture that with this card.

getting to know you and ICAD adventure

Guess what I found!  More new challenges!  And, the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge is so new, they're still on #SIPC1, which they've cleverly themed Getting to Know You:

If you've been to visit me before, you may have heard how hard it is for me to choose favorites, but at least this week, my favorite colors are the 2015-2017 In Colors.  I don't have one favorite style, either, but I'm currently fascinated by learning to do collage style, so I *had* to order Awesomely Artistic as soon as I saw it in the new catalog.  Yesterday, it was my favorite stamp set.  I once again may be a little overly pleased with myself, as I didn't CASE (remember? Copy And Share Everything? we just talked about that)  this card, and just made it up as I was going along:

stamp set - Awesomely Artistic; ink - Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron, Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder; card stock - Very Vanilla, Hello Honey, Mint Macaron

The dragonfly, flowers, and colors all look super summery to me, which oh-so-conveniently happens to be the theme at another challenge I just found, Can You Case It?:

Although I did make up my design as I went along, I didn't just randomly, free-hand stamp on the card stock and like it when I was done.  I decided on the colors and the stamp set but I froze up, looking at the pristine rectangle of Very Vanilla.  Then I thought about ICAD - Index Card a Day (I *know* - another acronym - and not a stamping/card making/scrapbooking one - but we talked about that just the other day, too).  My "practice" piece was free-hand, randomly stamped, and I mostly loved it:

The one thing I didn't love was those red splatters - they kind of look like thousands of mosquitoes that were smashed *after* they attacked an unsuspecting and otherwise non-violent homeowner in the muggy Midwest.